Henry Ruggs training in prison as he plans an unlikely NFL comeback story, reveals Josh Jacobs

Despite serving a prison sentence for a tragic DUI crash that took a life in 2021, former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs hasn’t stopped preparing for a possible NFL return. His former teammate, Josh Jacobs, recently revealed that Ruggs remains hopeful and is keeping in shape — just in case a second shot at football ever arrives.

Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs opened up about Ruggs’ state of mind and training routine during incarceration. “Keeping up with him and hearing him talk, it brings me spirits, because he’s always positive,” Jacobs shared. “He’s positive about everything. He’s training. They let him train and things like that, so I’m like, ‘When you come out, man, I don’t know if you will get a chance.’”

Ruggs, who was sentenced to three to ten years for a fatal crash that claimed the life of 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog, remains at Casa Grande Transitional Housing in Las Vegas. The accident occurred when Ruggs’ Corvette slammed into Tintor’s vehicle at 156 mph while he was under the influence. His earliest possible parole date is August 5, 2026.
Although the circumstances of Ruggs' incarceration stem from a deeply tragic and avoidable incident, Jacobs insists that one terrible decision doesn’t erase who Ruggs is as a person. “I’ve been talking to some people for him. They’ve been saying a couple of teams are willing to give him a chance,” he added. “I’m like, ‘When you get that chance, man, you better not ever — don’t look back, and prove to yourself and prove to everybody that one decision don’t define you and who you are as a man.’”
Jacobs also reflected on the night of the crash — a night he was supposed to spend with Ruggs at Top Golf before plans changed. The next morning's devastating news left him in disbelief and anger. “I instantly get mad,” Jacobs admitted. “And then when I start finding out more about the story and about how they were supposed to be racing. I’m like, ‘Who was he with?’ But he was with his family.”
His visit to Ruggs’ home in the aftermath was emotional, especially as he realized the burden Ruggs carried as the “breadwinner” of his family. “He the one changing all of y’all’s lives — everybody,” Jacobs emphasized.
The Raiders drafted Ruggs 12th overall in 2020, expecting the former Alabama speedster to be a game-changer. But just two seasons into his professional career, everything changed. Yet for Jacobs, Ruggs remains the same person at heart. “He’s never been in trouble. I’ve never seen him do nothing crazy,” he said. “He was just one of them guys that have a very, very unfortunate situation and something happened, a decision that he made.”
Whether the NFL is ready to give Ruggs another opportunity remains to be seen. But in the shadows of a prison yard, Ruggs continues to train — not just for a second chance on the field, but perhaps to prove to himself and others that one moment of tragedy doesn't define an entire life.
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